The Christian Lifestyle Magazine, Issue 12

PASTORAL INTERVIEW
two cars, and employment in my
field closed. We understood we were
going against God’s will.
God was telling us we weren’t
listening to Him. God wanted us
because we weren’t sold out. His
instructions were to serve the
people. So, after losing the house,
cars, suffering a miscarriage, and
being newlywed, we accepted the
DO YOU ENGAGE IN ON A
DAILY BASIS?
Due to the small size of the Dutywa
community, the church is active in
many, if not all, activities. We provide
spiritual care to the nearby schools
and the local prison. Our church
offers small groups for counselling
purposes, midweek services and we
do feeding schemes. By the grace of
died and resurrected for the church.
It is His duty; we are only stewards
of the Lord’s church. We spend time
alone as individuals as well. I (Jade)
spend time alone with my thoughts
and the Bible in prayer. My husband
also does this. As a pair, we share
time together. We communicate in
order to gain each other’s input and
ideas. Occasionally, we also spend
WHERE
YOU
CANNOT
SEE!
call to Saldanha Bay. While there,
God, our church is prepared to assist
time away with our children to
Ashwin was still in construction
those affected by natural disasters
recharge. We sometimes rejuvenate
and continuing his own business
in our town, whether it be clothing
with our kids. Working with different
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT
YOURSELF, WERE YOU
BROUGHT UP IN MINISTRY?
Ok, we are Jade and Ashwin
Marcus. Two God-loving people with
bubbly personalities. One a bit more
bubbly than the other, we will not
mention names.
Yes, we were both brought up in
ministry however, I (Jade) have a bit
of both worlds.My parents were both
estate agents whilst being leaders in
the Lord’s church. Ashwin’s parents
had been full-time for the last forty
years after his dad had decided to
leave his job as an almost train driver
to follow the call of God upon his
life. So yeah, we were both brought
up in ministry.
Interviewed by: Claudene Sebolai
How long are you married, do you
have children and what are their
names and ages?
We will be married for forteen
years, this year on December 27 th .
Blessed with two beautiful girls
Mphumelele aged ten and Siphokazi
aged seven.
HOW DID YOU MEET?
We both grew up in Pentecostal
circles, so I knew of Ashwin. I knew
about his dad’s church and attended
church conferences where I saw
him. He may not have seen me
(chuckling). As a young girl, I attended
conferences called “Saamtrek” and
saw a young kid (Ashwin) preaching. I
remember wondering, “What type of
youngster wants to be like the “groot
pastoor”?” Later, when we met, we
were instantly attracted to each
other. From day one, I knew he was
dedicated to God and His people. I
knew if I married him, I’d have to do
the same.
At the time of our marriage, I was
a student of arts and drama, while
Ashwin worked in marketing and
construction. After we were married,
we moved to Saldanha Bay, where
we were assistant pastors and
started a church. We juggled the call
to ministry as we navigated, feeling
we could do both as we listened to
God and did our own thing because
we were young and had no intention
of being in full-time ministry. But we
couldn’t do both. We lost our home,
activities, and God wasn’t happy
since He called us for Him, His
purposes, and His plan. A prophet
and friend told me she dreamed of
Ashwin preaching in a dry, strange
region as the people approached
closer. Before the dream ended, she
saw Ashwin preaching to masses.
On January 25, 2012, while I was
seven months pregnant with our first
child, we attended a conference in
Cape Town. The preacher summoned
us from the back. He predicted
something will happen in a few days,
which worried me as a 7-monthpregnant
woman. He stated it will
transform our life. Knees were weak.
On the 27th, two days later we were
on a flight to Transkei. Accepting
the call was easy but frightening.
Ten years later we can confidently
say that God was in it. Today we still
happily doing ministry in Transkei. By
God’s grace, help and sustenance!
WHAT SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
or food. God has enabled us. Our
church is making inroads in the town
of Dutywa.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH
CONFLICT?
We maintain our neutrality. We
try to bring all sides together to
understand their perspectives. We
know this is God’s church and must
be open to new experiences to
win people. By God’s grace, we’ve
handled a lot of conflict in the last
decade and won people over. That,
I believe, is God’s heart in the midst
of conflict. I live by the principle that
we must love both God and people.
They complement each other. Prayer
and God’s Word help us resolve
conflict.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR
EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL
WELL-BEING?
The first step is to acknowledge
that God’s church is not ours, so that
there are no sleepless nights. He has
personalities will induce fatigue.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR
FAVOURITE AND LEAST
FAVOURITE EXPERIENCES IN
MINISTRY?
We love watching God transform
the lives of those who were once
hopeless and irreparable. We have
witnessed Him improve the lives of
others. This is extremely gratifying
and invaluable to us as ministers.
Losing individuals along the path
of leadership is our least favourite
experience. Even if you desire to
retain them with all of your heart,
strength, and power. We are aware
that seasons change and that
individuals move on to new pastures.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR
FAVOURITE BIBLE PASSAGES?
Ashwin’s is 1 Corinthians 15 v 58:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
ye steadfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
30 THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE 31